Rebels launch heavy assault on Sri Lankan army

October 7, 1998
Web posted at: 5:01 a.m. EDT (0901 GMT)

COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (CNN) - Heavy fighting broke out between
government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels in Sri Lanka's north
when the military attempted to advance ahead of a key town
that it captured last week, military officials said on
Wednesday.

They said the troops came under heavy rebel mortar fire north
of Mankulam on Tuesday and several soldiers were killed or
wounded in the fighting.

The defense ministry said in a statement that ground troops
had confirmed 18 rebels were killed and 12 wounded, while
three soldiers sustained minor wounds.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels said over
their clandestine Voice of Tiger radio that fighting had
continued for several hours and they had lost 14 guerrillas
in the battle.

The broadcast was monitored in the northern government-held
town of Vavuniya.

A win and a loss for army

Government troops captured Mankulam last week soon after they
lost another northern town to the rebels. Mankulam is said to
be a strategic point on a key northern highway the military
has been trying to capture since last year.

Savage fighting was reported in the north last week after the
rebels attacked the military's defenses in Kilinochchi,
forcing troops to vacate the town.

Kilinochchi lies south of the northern Jaffna peninsula.

Military spokesman Brigadier Sunil Tennakoon said last week
520 rebels and 443 soldiers were killed in the battle for
Kilinochchi.

The loss of Kilinochchi was "the largest blow after
Mullaitivu," said Tennakoon, in a reference to a military
camp overrun by rebels in 1996.

Tamil rebels killed or captured some 1,200 soldiers in taking
Mullaitivu, which is now a major rebel stronghold.

Strategic link needed for victory

Analysts say the capture of Mankulam is not as important as
the loss of Kilinochchi.

The highway, if captured, would give the government land
access to the peninsula. Currently all supplies of men and
material for Jaffna have to be transported by sea or air.

The government slapped censorship on war reporting by the
local and foreign media in June and independent confirmation
of events is not possible as journalists are not allowed
access to the war zone, except when taken on a tour.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for a separate homeland
in Sri Lanka's north and east since 1983, accusing the
Sinhalese majority of oppressing the Tamil minority.

The government says thousands of people have died in the
15-year-old war.